Deuteronomy 31.8 “’Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.’”

Dreams! Nightmares! The Boogie Man! The big, bad wolf! Do you remember your childhood fears? How about your children? Do they have bad dreams at night? Are they scared to go to sleep at night without the light on? We have all had those fears as a child or our child is having them. So what do we do with that fear? How can we not be scared?

These words in Deuteronomy were spoken by Moses to the people of Israel right before they were to enter the Promised Land. He is telling them, “Don’t worry about anything! God’s got this! He will always be with you. You just have to trust Him.” Moses knew that the people were scared, and not just because they were going to face obstacles in the land promised to them. They were going to cross the Jordan without him. Moses, their faithful and fearless leader of the past 40 years, was not going with them. God had told him he couldn’t enter because of his disobedience at the waters of Meribah. The people were panicked. “What do we do? How can we go in without Moses?”

Our children are going to have to face obstacles as they grow up. Mom and Dad aren’t always going to be there. When they face “an enemy” in the lunchroom, you won’t be there to hold their hand. When they are taking a test and are tempted to cheat, you won’t be there to tell them “no.” When they face those tough decisions between right and wrong, you may not be around or available to give them the answer. But…..”God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

What a perfect lesson for our kids to learn from this verse. As a believer we have nothing to fear. John tells us perfect love casts out all fear. There is no obstacle too big for us to face if we trust the Lord to guide us. And if He is guiding us, He is also protecting us. Nothing can touch us unless He allows it. So who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf? Not me!

Mark 16:8-11 “8 They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 9 [Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.”

It is interesting that Mark is the only Gospel that implies that at first the women who came to the tomb on Resurrection morning and saw the angel did not immediately tell others what they saw. Verse 8 says “and they said nothing to anyone.” But you just can’t keep that kind of story to yourselves.

Have you ever heard good news and decided to keep it to yourselves? Maybe you had been trying for months or even years to have a baby and you finally get the news that you are expecting. You may, for a little while, keep it to yourselves, but eventually you tell everyone you love. Heck, you may even tell a perfect stranger. Lol

The news of Christ’s resurrection is just as exciting today as it was when the women discovered the empty tomb. It is still empty. He has still risen. He is still seated at the right hand of the Father. The women, as recorded here in Mark, kept the news to themselves out of fear. But they had to tell someone.

So how do we teach this truth to our kids? By getting excited about it ourselves. We need to make a big deal about the Resurrection. We need to live as if we actually believe He rose from the grave rather than that He is still in it. We need to show them we believe that He is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for all who have accepted Him. We need to – TELL SOMEONE! Have you done that? Your children will imitate you, you know. What better trait for them to imitate than your passion to share Christ with others.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “19 ’I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

We hear that phrase a lot these days in regard to the Pro-Life and Pro- Abortion debate. We can even get tags for our vehicles in some states that read “Choose Life.” I am solidly Pro-Life and believe that every life, from the moment of conception until the last breath is released, is precious in the eyes of God. But this verse isn’t talking about that. Look at what it says.

In this passage Moses is telling the people of Israel just before they enter the Promised Land what life is all about: 1) Loving the Lord God 2) Obeying His voice and 3) Holding fast to Him. Those three things give life. What great principles to teach our children.

First, he says to love the Lord. That one is easy to teach. Even the smallest child can understand love. We love a lot of stuff. But to love the Lord God means He is the only One deserving of our worship and praise. Teach them that!

Secondly, Moses says to obey His voice. Now this gets a little harder, doesn’t it? Even for us adults, that is difficult. What better way to teach our kids to obey God than to teach them to obey the authorities in their lives. I see way too many children who are not taught to obey. Parents let little Elrod pitch a fit and then give him what he wants. That is NOT teaching obedience. Teach them to obey!

Finally, Moses tells them to hold fast. Our children need to learn to hang on even when things get hard. Too many children bail at the first difficult task or situation. Teach them to stay committed to what they have begun. They need to learn how to stick with something. After all, God will stick with them through eternity. Teach them to hold on!

Again Parents, you have to model all three of these yourselves. Because our little angels learn best by watching us. Love, obey, and hold fast! That is Life!

Mark 15:5 “But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.”

I have to tell you – I hate being falsely accused. I immediately jump into defensive mode and begin to formulate my response while the other person is still talking. I don’t even wait for an invitation to respond. I quickly start talking.

I need to stop and do what Jesus did in this passage. When He was being falsely accused by the religious leaders, He just stopped talking. Why? He was innocent! He had NEVER done anything wrong (I can’t say that). But it would not have mattered what He said. They were intent on killing Him. He was just in their way.

It is not wrong to defend ourselves. I am not saying that. But we need to really listen to the accuser’s words. Perhaps their accusation is really a cry for help. Perhaps they need us to correct a misperception so they can return to fellowship with us and God. We can actually be a healing balm for them – if we would just listen.

What can we teach our children from this passage? Simple! Shut your mouth! Now, I don’t mean that in a cruel way. I mean we need to teach them to guard their words carefully. If they haven’t been accused of something they didn’t do yet, they will. Someone will point a finger at them and declare to the world that they are the guilty one when in fact they are innocent. But just like Jesus, they too can keep silent. Wait! Be patient. Let the right time come to respond. Jesus will give them the words to say when it is time – not before.

Now Mom and Dad, can you practice that today? Can you “shut your mouth”? Let Jesus be your Defender against your accuser. He will!

Deuteronomy 22:1-3 “1 ’You shall not see your countryman’s ox or his sheep straying away, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly bring them back to your countryman. 2 If your countryman is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall remain with you until your countryman looks for it; then you shall restore it to him. 3 Thus you shall do with his donkey, and you shall do the same with his garment, and you shall do likewise with anything lost by your countryman, which he has lost and you have found. You are not allowed to neglect them. ‘“

I remember saying that when I was a child. “Finders keepers, losers weepers!” Boy, it felt good to find something really cool outside while playing or to find some money on the ground. I thought I had really scored something. It was even sweeter if it belonged to one of my siblings, and I had always eyed it. Haha.

But this passage in Deuteronomy tells us we should NOT keep it, especially if we know to whom it belongs. What a great lesson for our children to learn. We should look out for the belongings of others. We should hold on to them to keep them safe and then return them when they ask about it.

This, of course, goes directly against our flesh. We want, want, want! We see something and we want it, sometimes even it belongs to someone else. Teaching our children to control the desires of the flesh at an early age will bid them well later in life. When they get a job and are tempted to take something at work that is just “lying there,” it could be end of a career or worse. You’ve heard it said a hundred times “Honesty is the best policy.” What a perfect passage to teach your children. Isn’t the Word just awesome?

Mark 14:3 “While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. “

When you read this story in Matthew and Mark what do you focus on? I don’t know about you, but most everyone zeroes in right away on the alabaster vial. There have been songs written about it. Babbie Mason even entitled a Christian album by that name.

But did you notice the first phrase, “While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon THE LEPER”? Jesus was reclining at the table with a leper? Really? Most scholars agree that Simon was probably a former leper who was still known as Simon the Leper. And since Jesus was the guest of honor He was probably reclining right next to Simon. Perhaps Jesus had healed Simon, and thus the reason He was at his home. We don’t know for sure, but the fact remains, Simon was known as Simon the Leper. What a nickname!

So what’s the lesson we can teach our kids from this passage? Nicknames stick? Be careful who you eat with? No! The lesson is that Jesus loved Simon, no matter what people called him. People probably shunned him. People probably avoided shaking Simon’s hand. Not Jesus. He reclined right next to him and ate with him. And we can assume Simon loved Jesus.

We need to teach our kids to accept others who may be different than us. We need to love on the unlovable. We need to accept those who the world may shun. Why? Because Jesus did! And He asks us to do the same. Why don’t you reach out this week to someone you normally wouldn’t? Show your kids that you too can love a “Simon.”

Deuteronomy 18:21 “’You may say in your heart, “How will we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?”’”

One of the most difficult spiritual concepts to teach children is how to know when it is the Lord speaking to them or just indigestion. Lol. Seriously, how do we teach them to listen to the Lord’s voice and not be swayed by friends, culture or even a misinformed teacher?

Moses answered his own question he proposed to the people by saying they would wait and see if what the prophet said became true. So the answer is “Are your children hearing the truth as compared to THE Truth?” Our children need a measuring rod for what is true and what is false. We know as believers that the only real truth is God’s Word. We have to use that to compare anything. If what we are hearing does not match up to what God says in His Word, then we are not be swayed by it.

That is why, Parents, you must use God’s Word, not your knowledge or wisdom, as the reason behind disciplining your children. We should always point them to scripture when we correct. Not as a battering ram or a baseball bat, but as the gentle guide it is in our own lives. We need rules and guidelines, and God gives us those so clearly in His Word.

Your children are going to have many questions as they get older that will need clarity. Whom do they date? What will be their major in college? Whom do they marry? Whom do they cast a vote for in an election? All these questions can be answered by clinging to His Word. Point them there. After all, if God says it, that simply settles it.

Mark 12:42 “A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.”

This is probably one of the most familiar passages in the New Testament. What a great lesson on giving! Jesus simply points out to his disciples that it isn’t the size of the gift that matters. It’s the size of the heart of giving.

In my years working with Non-profits, part of my job was to ask donors for support. I have never had a problem asking others to support a worthy ministry or cause. Sometimes those I asked would give very generously. Other times they didn’t. There was one widow who supported the last ministry I worked for. She would send in $1 each month. I visited her when I could to thank her. She never understood why I would go out my way to visit her since she only could give $1. I knew her $1 was her heart gift.

Moms and Dads, it is never too early to teach your children to give. They need to learn the joy of giving. Now I don’t mean for you to just give them your spare change to put in the offering plate. That’s fine, but it’s not their money. When your children get old enough to earn some money, teach them the importance of giving at least a tithe of that to the Lord. But let them choose how to give it.

Lessons learned early about tithing will carry your children through their life. I just love seeing the children each week in our Children’s Church bring in their offering. I love seeing them put that money towards supporting the two children in Guatemala and the one in Thailand. They can literally put a face with their gift.

As with all lessons we teach, Moms and Dads, you need to model this. Show them the joy you have when you give. That is something they will never forget.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 “ 18 ’You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 19 You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. 20 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.’”

Can I ask you a question this morning? Where is your Bible? Do you even know where it is? Is it on a shelf somewhere covered in dust? When you come home from church on Sunday, does it stay right where you put it until next Sunday when you pick it up to go to church?

For many that is the sad truth. But according to this passage we should have it with us at all times. We should “bind it” to our palms and forehead. Now we can’t literally walk around all the time with the Bible in our hand or tied to our forehead. I mean, we could, but we would have hard time getting anything done. So, how can we teach our children this truth?

We must be quick to pick up our Bible (bind it to our palms) when we need an answer. The Bible truly has the answer to all of life’s questions. But in order to find the answer we have to read the book. We must be able to lay our hands on it at anytime. With today’s smart phones and Bible apps, that is so easy.

We also must have the Word of God memorized (bind it to our foreheads). Scripture memorization is difficult for some. I know the older I get the harder it becomes. But when all else fails – hard copies, apps, computer software – we can always have the Word in our memory. Help your children memorize Scripture, maybe just one verse a week!

I will admit that I wasn’t consistent about teaching my kids the Word when they were young. Sure, we read the Bible and they were in church, but I don’t believe I did all I could have done to impress on them the importance of God’s Word in their life. Christopher and Casey, forgive me for not being more diligent about that.   Don’t be like me, Parents. Use God’s Word daily in your kids’ lives. After all, verse 21 promises a blessing to those who do!

Mark 12:10-11 “10 ‘Have you not even read this Scripture: “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; 11 This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes”?’”

I just love the fact that here in this passage Jesus basically calls Himself a rock. What do you think about when you hear the word “rock”? I have been called “hard-headed” before, but somehow I don’t think that is what the Lord was thinking. He wasn’t referring to Himself as someone who was hard to get along with or that object that is just in the way.

I guarantee you if you have little boys they love to throw rocks. Man, I use to love to skip rocks on the water down at the little pond near my house. I use to love to throw rocks at turtles too. Shoot, I even use to love to throw rocks at my brother sometimes (Sorry Tim). Rocks can hurt though. Jesus also isn’t saying He is hurtful.

So, what is He saying? He says He is the “chief corner stone.” That’s the stone that is placed at the base of the building from which all the other stones are laid. It is the most important stone and usually the largest.

Let me encourage you, Moms and Dads, to find a building in your town or city in which there is a visible corner stone. Take your children there and explain this passage to them. Tell them that, just like this stone is the foundation for the building they are looking at, Jesus is the foundation upon which they can build their lives. And when they build on Him, they can be assured that no matter what may happen, they are “rock solid.”